July Was Wetter, Cooler Than Normal In L.v.

July was the third consecutive month of above normal rainfall for the Lehigh Valley, but because of 1985's dry beginning, the area is still more than 2 inches below normal for the year.

The National Weather Service at the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport also announced July had slightly below normal temperatures, with highs of only 89 recorded on July 20 and 30. The average monthly temperature was 73.3, or .5 inches below normal. The lowest temperature was 53 on July 24.

Thunderstorms were observed on 11 days during the month, with some severe storms hitting western Schuylkill and northern Carbon counties.

Total rainfall for the month was 7.61 inches, or 3.48 inches above normal. The most to fall in a 24-hour period was 2.90 on July 26 and 27.

Cooling degree days totaled 263 for the month, or 10 below normal. Total for the season is 458, or 12 above normal.

Temperatures in August have a 50 percent chance of being about the normal of 72.1 degrees, and precipitation has a 55 percent chance of being above the normal of 4.44 inches.

The outlook through October is a 55 percent chance of above normal temperatures, and a 50 percent chance of normal rainfall.